The Ethics of the Last Day

This paper explores the ethical significance of acting under the assumption that each decision may be one’s last. Drawing on Stoic ethics, the analysis develops a normative framework for judgment, responsibility, and self-governance under conditions of uncertainty. The paper argues that the “last day” perspective sharpens moral clarity, reduces distortion by external pressures, and reinforces personal accountability in both private and institutional contexts. Stoicism is presented not as a doctrine of withdrawal, but as a practical ethical orientation toward integrity, agency, and responsibility. This paper is also available on SSRN. The Zenodo version serves as an open-access archival reference.